ERIC BRIGHTEYES - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

ERIC Thorgrimursson (nicknamed 'Brighteyes' for his most notable trait), strives to win the hand of his beloved, Gudruda the Fair. Her father Asmund, a priest of the old Norse gods, opposes the match, thinking Eric a man without prospects. But deadlier by far are the intrigues of Swanhild, Gudruda's half-sister, a sorceress, who desires Eric for herself. She persuades the chieftain Ospakar Blacktooth to woo Gudrida, making the two men enemies. Battles, intrigues, and treachery follow.

From the pen of the master of Victorian action and adventure this novel actually seems rather less dated in the early 21st century than Haggard's other work or the general run of Victorian adventure fiction. Improvements in our understanding of the Viking period have done surprisingly little to falsify Haggard's imagination of its setting, and the book should still hold appeal to any reader interested in the period.

Clearly influenced of the pioneering saga translations by William Morris and Eirikr Magnusson in the late 1860s ERIC BRIGHTEYES set a standard of quality and fidelity to the saga style that remained unmatched until Poul Anderson's novel The Broken Sword 60 years later.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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NORTHLAND HEROES - two Norse Sagas rewritten especially for children and young adults - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

For centuries the songs of Homer, the blind poet of Greece, recounting the heroic deeds of the great Hector and lion-hearted Achilles, have delighted the children, young and old, of many lands. But part of our own heritage, and nearer to us in race and time, are these stories of Beowulf and Frithiof (Fridtjhof) rewritten in a simpler format for children and Young Adults.

The records of lives nobly lived are an inspiration to noble living. With the hope that the courage, truth, endurance, reverence, and patriotism shown by these heroes of the Northland will arouse interest and emulation. This little book is offered to our young adults and children. "The Story of Frithiof" is based upon Holcomb's translation of Bishop Tegnér's poem, "The Saga of Frithiof" which charts Frithiof's and Ingeborg's undying love for each other and the lengths Frithiof had to go to, to eventually win her hand. If ever a story was to teach the young about perseverance and endurance, this is it.

The epic Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It has variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries. The original is an epic poem told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past. It follows the life of Beowulf, his rites of passage and his maturing from boy to man through facing and overcoming adversity and evil. This was the time when men were knighted for achieving great feats, and great their feats were. A time when the successful application of brain and brawn gained a man high standing in the community and possibly even higher office in the land.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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THE SAGA OF VIGA GLUM - An Ancient Viking Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

The Sagas, of which this tale is one, were composed for the men who have left their mark in every corner of Europe. There is no page of modern history in which the influence of the Vikings and their conquests have not had an effect--Russia, Constantinople, Greece, Palestine, Sicily, the coasts of Africa, Southern Italy, France, the Spanish Peninsula, England, Scotland, Ireland, and every rock and island round them, have been visited at one time or another by the men of Scandinavia, and their influence is still being felt today.

This saga paints a picture of Icelandic society. But the society presented is not one of pastoral simplicity and repose. The actors within were real men and women and the events portrayed actually occurred - for this is a true story. Bloodshed and violence are common and Viga-Glum, or "Murdering Glum," the hero of this story, is not by any means a perfect character, even when measured by the standards of the time in which he lived. A time when a man's standing in the community was dictated by courage and his wealth, the author tells us that for twenty years he was the first man in Eyjafirth, and for twenty years more there was no better man there.

Viga-Glum is described as one who was naturally indolent, shy, and moody; but when he could be brought to act, his courage and determination were indomitable. When he had to achieve a purpose he was thoroughly unscrupulous; neither blood nor false oaths stood in his way - just what one would expect from a Viking. The finishing touch to this part of his character is added by the peculiarity, that whenever he was intent on slaying a man, he was apt to be seized with a fit of uncontrollable laughter which ended in tears.

So join us in this ancient tale of love, lust, honour, murder, Beserkers, romance and damsels in distress.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CORMAK THE SKALD - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

This is the story of a poet, poor and proud, with all the strength of a Viking and all the weakness of genius. He loves a fine lady, a spoiled child; who bewitches him, and jilts him, and jilts him again.

In true Viking style he fights for her, kills for her, writes verse for her, and rises, for her sake, to the height of all that a man in his age could achieve.
Then, after years, he has her at his feet, and learns of her heartlessness and worthlessness. He bids her farewell; but in the end dies with her name on his lips.


The motive of the book is very modern, yet at the same time as ancient as the human race itself. It is dramatic and imaginative in the sense that it is told by one who was an artist in his craft of saga-telling. The diction is of the simplest and there is no fine writing, but the plot is balanced like a Greek play and the action drives along to its close.


The result is conveyed without a word of moralizing. The characters are broadly drawn, and their types are still valid today. Without needless detail, there are touches enough of realism. It reads like a novel, and yet it is a true story.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF.

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--o0o—

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The Saga of Gisli the Outlaw - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

THE EVENTS described in the saga of Gisli the Soursop reach from about the year AD930 to AD980. In a time when the law of Iceland had not yet been established, when men were ruled by their conscience, Gisli, a champion of Iceland, was outlawed for murder by the Chieftain Bork at the Thorsness Thing (council).

But besides his sentence he was doomed, even before his birth. He and his kin were under a curse, for they had kept the broken bits of "Graysteel", the thrall's good sword, which came with a withering spaedom. So under sentence and under a curse Gisli went on the run. For fourteen years with the help of family, friends and those who really knew the truth, he managed to evade Bork's men and bounty hunters alike.

As with many champions through the ages, Gisli was also a true poet and his verses have genuine thought and feeling lying underneath, as you will frequently find in this volume. To the end Gisli fought hard, taking with him eight of the fourteen who eventually cornered him one snowy night on the crags. It has been said by many that there never was a more famous and honourable defence made by one man in times of which the truth is known. Even as death approached Gisli managed to compose and sing one final verse to his wife who stood nearby.

It has also been said that this is one of the finest, if it be not the very finest, of the lesser Sagas. When translating it is difficult to grasp the full spirit of the story, but here it has been accomplished with the detail of scenery and costume thoroughly mastered.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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--o0o—

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The Saga of Beowulf - an Ancient Norse Saga rewritten especially for Children - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

f you ever just wanted to know the story of Beowulf without having to plough through the 3,182 lines of the epic poem, then this book is for you. This is the story of Beowulf as retold by Strafford Riggs.

Beowulf was written in England, but is set in Scandinavia. It has variously been dated to between the 8th and the early 11th centuries. It is an epic saga told in historical perspective; a story of epic events and of great people of a heroic past.

This was the time when men were knighted for achieving great feats, and great the feats of Beowulf were. Dismissed by the King's Earls as clumsy, lazy and a sluggard, he was also shunned by his peers for his strength and prowess with the sword and spear. On hearing of the monster, Grendel, he announced his intention to sail for the Daneland to prove his worth and prove his accusers wrong. And this he did, killing not only the monster Grendel but also it's evil moster-mother.

On his return home he was proclaimed the greatest hero of the North by the very same who condemned him (sic). In time he becomes king of Geatsland and an extended period of prosperity follows, ended only by a flame-breathing, steam belching dragon. Once again our hero sallies
forth. The dragon is defeated but this time so is our hero.

In a time when the young servicemen of the western nations are heroically laying down their lives in the seemingly endless battle against terror in order that we may live safely in our homes, £1.30 from the sale of this book will be donated to Help for Heroes a UK charity providing practical and direct support for the UK's wounded servicemen.

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--o0o—

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The Saga of Burnt Njal - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

What is a Saga? A Saga is a story, or telling in prose, sometimes mixed with verse. There are many kinds of Sagas with varying degrees of truth. There are the mythical Sagas, the historical Sagas of the kings of Norway, and then there are Sagas relating to Iceland narrating the lives, the feuds and the ends of mighty chiefs who dwelt in the districts of the island. These were told by men who lived on the very spot, and told with an exactness as to time and place. The Saga of Njal is one of these.

Of all the Sagas relating to Iceland, this tragic story bears away the palm for truthfulness and beauty. To use the words of one well qualified to judge, it is, when compared with all similar
compositions, as gold to brass. In this Saga we learn of the sad story of Njal's fate, Gunnar's peerlessness and Hallgerda's infamy, of Bergthora's helpfulness, of Skarphedinn's hastiness, of Flosi's foul deed, and Kari's stern revenge.

To tell a story truthfully was what was looked for from all men in those days; but to tell it properly and gracefully, and to clothe the facts in fitting diction, was given to few, and of those few the Saga-teller who first threw Njal into its present shape, was one of the first and foremost. As for truthfulness, there are many other Sagas relating to the same period in which the actors in our Saga are mentioned by name and in which their deeds are corroborated.

But, of all the Sagas, none were so interesting as Njal, whether as regarding the length of the story, the number of ranking chiefs who appeared in it as actors and the graphic way in which the tragic tale is told.

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--o0o—

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The Saga of Grettir the Strong - Grettis Saga - An Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

In this saga, Grettir's life is told from beginning to end. As a child, he is rebellious and bad-tempered. He is described as red haired, freckled, and broad around the eyes. But he is also courageous. He takes on and defeats a draugr, a walking corpse or Norse equivalent of a zombie. But in doing so he is cursed, and this is thought to be the cause of his later misfortunes.


At times Grettir falls into the role of a bona fide hero, but he is blamed for setting fire to a hall, killing many men, and is condemned by the Thing (assembly) to outlawry (although many suspect the validity of this sentence). This means that anyone may attempt to kill him without legal penalty and citizens are forbidden to help in any way. Many attempts are made but none succeed. This is not dissimilar to the Saga of Gisli (also republished by Abela Publishing).


Grettir eventually becomes the longest surviving outlaw in Icelandic history. When he has completed nearly 20 years as an outlaw, his friends and family ask for his outlawry to be lifted, arguing that a man may not spend more than 20 years as an outlaw (in reality there was no such law in medieval Iceland). After a debate at the assembly, it is decided that the outlawry will be lifted when he has truly completed the 20 years, but not before.


His enemies make one last effort, using sorcery causing him to wound himself and finally defeat him in the lonely, fortress-like Drangey off the northern tip of Iceland where he was staying with his brother Illugi, and slave Glaumur.

Later, in Constantinople, where the Norse served as the Varangian Guard to the Byzantine Emperor, Grettir’s half brother, Thorsteinn of Dromund, avenges his murder.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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The THRALL of LEIF the LUCKY - An Ancient Viking Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

THE Anglo-Saxon race was in its boyhood in the days when the Vikings lived. For every heroic vice, the Vikings laid upon the opposite scale an heroic virtue. They plundered and robbed, as most men did in the times when Might made Right. Yet the heaven-sent instinct of hospitality was in the marrow of their bones. No beggar went from their doors without alms; no traveller asked in vain for shelter. As cunningly false as they were to their foes, just so superbly true were they to their friends. Above all, they were a race of conquerors, whose knee bent only to its proved superior. Their allegiance was not given to the man who was king-born, but to the man who showed himself their leader in courage and their master in skill.


Leif Ericsson, also known as “Leif the Lucky”, was the second son of Erik the Red and certainly displayed the Viking spirit of adventure and exploration. As a young man Leif Ericsson visited Norway, where he converted to Christianity. He was charged with returning to Greenland to convert the populace, but instead sailed further west and is believed to have landed somewhere in Nova Scotia. He spent a year in North America before returning home to Greenland, where he served as governor.


The film The Viking (1928) was based on this novel, which has, to some extent, been based on Viking history.

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The Saga of Olaf the Glorious - only a Viking could have led a life like this! - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

The hero in this volume is not an imaginary one; he was a real flesh and blood man who reigned as King of Norway just over a thousand years ago. The main facts of his adventurous career -- his boyhood of slavery in Estonia, his life at the court of King Valdemar, his wanderings as a Viking, the many battles he fought, his conversion to Christianity in England, and his ultimate return to his native land -- are set forth in the various Icelandic sagas dealing with the period in which he lived. The author made free use of these old time records, and added only such probable incidents as were necessary to give a continuous thread of interest to the narrative.



For the convenience of readers who may wish for greater exactness it may be as well to state here that Olaf Triggvison was born A.D. 963, that he started on his wanderings as a Viking in the year A.D. 981, that the sea fight between the Vikings of Jomsburg and the Norwegians took place in A.D. 986, and the battle of Maldon in the year A.D. 991. Olaf reigned only five years as King of Norway, being crowned in 995, and ending his reign with his death in the glorious defeat at Svold in the year A.D. 1000.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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Fridtjhof's Saga - also known as Friedthof's Saga - An Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

King Bele of Sogn  had two sons, Helgi and Halfdan, and a daughter named Ingeborg. Across the fjord, lived the king's friend Thorstein Víkingsson  whose son Fridthjof (Friðþjófr), called "the bold", was the bravest among men. Fridthjof had been raised with Ingeborg by their foster-father Hilding.


Both Bele and Thorsteinn died in war whereupon Helgi and Halfdan ruled the kingdom. They were jealous of Fridthjof's excellent qualities and denied Fridthjof Ingeborg's hand. They took her to Balder's sacred enclosure where no one dared touch her. Still, Fridthjof visited Ingeborg and their love for each other continued to grow.


This angered Helgi and Halfdan and Fridthjof was banished to Orkney. They also demanded tribute. While he was away they burnt down his homestead and married Ingeborg to the aged king Ring of Ringerike. When Frithjof returned with the tribute, he burnt down Balder's temple and left to live as a viking. After three years he wintered with king Ring. Fridthjof's identity became apparent and the dying king appointed Fridthjof earl and made him the care-taker of Ring's and Ingeborg's child. After Ring’s death, Fridthjof and Ingeborg married and he became the king of Ringerike. He declared war on Ingeborg's brothers, killed one and made the second his vassal.


Tegne'r's poem, "Fridthjof's Saga," has been printed in Sweden in many editions and in almost every possible style. It has been illustrated and it has been set to music most famously by Heinrich Hofmann but also by Bruch and Johan Wagenaar. Moreover it has been rendered into English by eighteen different translators, and has been translated into nearly all the modern European languages.


33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF

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The Saga of Howard the Halt - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

This is a Norse tale, or saga, of Howard the Halt, or Howard the Lame. It tells of a man named Thorbiorn who had the priesthood over Icefirth. A mighty chief, but the most unjust of men. Throughout Icefirth all spoke ill of him. He would take maidens, handfast them awhile before sending them home. From others he took their goods and chattels or their lands.  He had taken a young high-born woman, Sigrid, as his housekeeper.



And then there is our Howard. He too was of great kin, but now in the Autumn of his life. In his earlier days he had been a great Viking and the best of champions. In one of his bouts he was badly wounded and incurred a knee injury. Ever after he was halt, hence his name. Howard’s wife was Biargey, a stirring woman of good kin. They had one son, Olaf, a most resolute young man. Great of growth, and goodly of aspect.


Olaf was keen on Sigrid as was she on him. One of Thorbiorn’s henchmen, Vakr, was also keen on Sigrid, but she rejected his advances. Thorbiorn, Vakr and his other men ambushed and killed Olaf. So disastrous was the news to Howard that it is said he took to bed for a year. Biargey convinced him to rise and seek retribution at the Thing. All he received from Thorbiorn was scorn. But other attendees were so revolted at Thorbiorn’s judgement that, to Thorbiorn’s
chagrin, they agreed to pay Howard’s compensation.


But this is not where our story ends. On the contrary, it is merely the beginning of Howard and Biargey’s search for justice.


So pick up this ancient Norse tale, a story of the eternal search for love and justice amidst a world full of jealousy, spite and injustice. But know this, in the end justice and right will always prevail and in the case of Howard justice is dealt out in the Viking way.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF 

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--o0o--

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Eirik the Red's Saga - the Saga of Eric the Red - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

This is the Saga of Eirik the Red. This volume is more saga, or fact, than fiction. Despite this being a fact-based saga there is still plenty of action to enthral, for Eirik the Red and his two sons, Thorstein and Leif, were definitely men of action. It charts how his family first came to Iceland, his birth, his removal from Norway, his discovery of Greenland and the birth of his, more famous son Leif. It also gives account for time spent in Vinland (Nova Scotia) and gives account of their interaction with and action defending against the
people they called the Skrœlingar, or, North American Indians. The translators have also supplied the modern geographic names of the area of Nova Scotia where dwellings were built.


This volume also charts some of Leif Eiriksson’s life. Also known as “Leif the Lucky”, he was the second son of Eirik the Red and certainly also displayed the Viking spirit of adventure and exploration. As a young man Leif Ericsson visited Norway, where he converted to Christianity. He was charged with returning to Greenland to convert the populace, but instead sailed further west and is believed to have landed somewhere in Nova Scotia. He spent a year in North America before returning home to Greenland, where he served as governor converting the island to the Christian belief (for a more complete account of Leif’s saga try “The Thrall of Leif the Lucky” also republished by Abela Publishing).


The film The Viking (1928) was based on the life story of Leif and incorporates a good deal of authentic Viking history.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF. 

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--o0o--

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The Laxdaela Saga (the Laxdale Saga) - an Ancient Norse Saga - The Viking Sagas BBC FOUR

The Laxdœla saga is an Icelandic saga (story) of the men and women of the Salmon River valley involving the clan of Laxárdalur. It is one of the most important Icelandic sagas, originally written in Old Icelandic; probably sometime around the year 1245 AD. It is noted for its mention of the first known Norseman in the Varangian Guard: the Icelander Bolli Bollason.



An amalgam of historical fact, myth, epic, romance, anachronism, and literary invention, the Laxdaela Saga  is, in essence, a dramatization of the circumstances surrounding a blood-feud between two sides of a great dynasty; in its second and decisive portion, it treats a love triangle that re-ignites the feud and its adjoining intrigues.


Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, who is famous for her beauty is our protagonist. Courted by the two foster-brothers Kjartan Ólafsson and Bolli Þorleiksson. Guðrún preferred Kjartan, but she gave herself to Bolli, because of a false rumour that Kjartan was engaged to Ingibjörg, the sister of King Ólafur Tryggvason. The two foster-brothers engaged in hostilities which ended with Bolli killing
Kjartan, and Bolli being killed by Kjartan's kinsmen.


The story is carried forward by the mysterious workings of fate, symbolized by the prophetic dreams of Gudrun. Noted for its detached narrative style and ornately-patterned structure, the Laxdaela Saga remains a highly influential work of Scandinavian literature and is considered an outstanding example of medieval prose romance.

33% of the publisher's profit from the sale of this book will be donated to UNICEF.

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go to  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/laxdaela.html 

or
http://www.abelapublishing.com/laxdaela.html

To see the books and Sagas in our Norse and Viking Tales collection, 

follow this link  

http://www.fairytales-n-folklore.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html 

or go to

http://www.abelapublishing.com/VikingandIcelandicTales.html

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Published by Abela Publishing  

http://www.AbelaPublishing.com